Category: Uncategorized

  • PIA cancels more than 25 flights amidst fuel issues 

    PIA cancels more than 25 flights amidst fuel issues 

    In response to a severe fuel crisis, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) took the decision to cancel more than 25 flights on Monday, encompassing both domestic and international routes. 

    Among the affected routes were seven flights originating from Karachi, bound for Lahore, Rahim Yar Khan, and Peshawar. 

    Additionally, six flights from Karachi to Multan, Dubai, and Islamabad, as well as four flights from Islamabad to Dubai, Dammam, Medina, and Jeddah, faced cancellations.

    PIA’s spokesperson revealed that this measure was necessitated by a limited fuel supply from Pakistan State Oil (PSO). 

    According to ARY News, the airline has strategically prioritised its profitable routes amid fuel supply challenges. Notably, PSO resumed a restricted fuel supply to PIA after the assurance of a daily payment of Rs100 million to clear the pending dues.

    Amidst these developments, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar issued directives to accelerate the privatisation process of PIA and other financially struggling state-owned enterprises.

    Insider sources revealed that the financial management of the national airline would be transferred to the Privatisation Commission. 

    This move aims to implement measures to curb losses and enhance the airline’s financial stability. The commission plans to integrate PIA’s financial operations with an updated system, ultimately improving its balance sheet and facilitating the privatisation process. 

    Meanwhile, PIA intends to operate 60 flights on Monday to minimise disruptions for passengers.

  • 62,079 undocumented Afghans repatriated so far

    62,079 undocumented Afghans repatriated so far

    Many illegal Afghan citizens living in Pakistan are heading back to their homeland by October 31.

    So far, 62,079 undocumented Afghans have been repatriated.

    On October 22 alone, 2518 Afghans went back to Afghanistan.

    Among these 2518 Afghan citizens were 522 men, 218 women and 1778 children.

    Pakistan has accelerated the process of sending back illegal Afghans. As per reports, Afghans in Peshawar, Khyber and other areas have started selling their properties.

    Operations to arrest and deport illegal citizens have been under way.

    On October 4, the caretaker government set November 1 as the deadline for illegal immigrants residing in Pakistan, warning that action will be taken against them after the deadline. The decision was taken during an apex committee meeting on the National Action Plan (NAP) at the Prime Minister’s House.

    “We have given them [foreigners residing in Pakistan unlawfully] a deadline of November 1 to willingly return to their countries and if they don’t, all law enforcement agencies (LEAs) of the state and provinces will deport them,” Interim Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti had stated at a press conference.

  • ‘Last year took away my life’, Arshad Sharif remembered on first death anniversary 

    ‘Last year took away my life’, Arshad Sharif remembered on first death anniversary 

    It’s been a year since the demise of senior journalist Arshad Sharif who was killed in Kenya. The culprits, however, are still at large and the family awaits justice.

    The investigation so far has been futile. According to a Kenyan investigative journalist Nyaboga Kiage, five policemen involved in the case were initially suspended and have now resumed their duties without facing any liability. Two of them have been promoted. 

    Sharif’s death made headlines across the globe. On his first death anniversary, his family and colleagues are remembering him and pressing hard for justice. Journalism organisations are holding prayer ceremonies in his honour, where well-wishers are paying their respects and reflecting on the impact he had on the field.

    Sharif’s wife Javeria Siddique remembers the last twelve months as “last year took away my life”. She stated the struggles she is going through to get justice.

    Sharif’s former boss Salman Iqbal recalled his last conversation with the late journalist, saying, “bhai we are here to make this world a better place and we shall do what we were created for.”

    Fellow journalist Murtaza Ali Shah tweeted, “One year after assassination in Kenya, no justice for Arshad Sharif. Cops involved in firing bullets at him are back to their work.”

    Journalist Jameel Farouqi remembered him as a “big brother” and appreciated Sharif for his “sense of humour”

    His friend Tahir Malik misses him for ‘all the colours in life are lost after him.’

    Arshad’s colleague Kashif Abbasi still “can’t believe” he has lost his friend. It’s beyond ‘heart-breaking” for him. 

    Caretaker PM Kakar, in his meeting with Kenyan President Dr. William Ruto, when Kakar was in China last week, also asked for the process of investigation to be expedited.

    Sharif’s wife has already registered a case against the Kenyan Police in a Nairobi court.

  • Supreme Court declares trial of civilians in military courts null and void

    Supreme Court declares trial of civilians in military courts null and void

    The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday has declared trials of civilians in military courts null and void.

    A five-member bench of the Supreme Court has announced its decision on applications challenging the military trial of civilians involved in the May 9 riots.

    In the short verdict, the court ordered that 102 individuals detained under the Army Act should face trial in civilian courts. It additionally dictated that any trial of a civilian in a military court is considered invalid.

    The apex court’s bench — headed by Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan, and comprising of Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Ayesha Malik — heard petitions filed by PTI chief Imran Khan and others on Monday.

    The Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP), Mansoor Usman Awan, completed his arguments and he had focused on jurisdiction of military courts to try civilians under the Army Act.

    The day before, the federal government had notified the top court that military trials of civilians had already begun.

  • Atif Aslam donates Rs1.5 crores for Gaza

    Atif Aslam donates Rs1.5 crores for Gaza

    Atif Aslam continues to prove he’s a hero whether on the stage or behind the scenes.

    The ‘Doori’ singer has won the hearts of Pakistanis with the astounding Rs 1.5 crore donation he made to Al-Khidmat Foundation to provide necessary food and medical aid to the suffering civilians of Gaza living under Israel’s brutal occupation.

    Al-Khidmat Foundation’s post read: “Deep gratitude to the esteemed Atif Aslam for his generous contribution of 15 million PKR towards essential medical and food aid in Gaza, Palestine during these trying times. We humbly request your support for the Alkhidmat Gaza Fund.”

    Fans of the singer expressed their gratitude in the comments section.

    The catastrophe in Gaza is growing with recent reports saying October 23rd was the longest bloodiest nights for the civilians after Israel bombarded several residential areas which included the densely populated Jabalia refugee camp, and areas close to Al-Shifa and Al-Quds hospital, leaving more than 400 dead. This brings the total death toll of Palestinian civilians murdered to 4,651.

  • 51 per cent people think that Nawaz’s return will help PML-N win next election

    51 per cent people think that Nawaz’s return will help PML-N win next election

    The political fortunes of Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) got uplifted after the return of three-time former prime minister and party head Nawaz Sharif, revealed a snap poll conducted by Gallup Pakistan.

    As per a report in The News, a sample of 1000 men and women were selected scientifically from 100 different district across the country.
    The survey included total eight key findings.

    According to the survey, 75 per cent adults of the country said that they have heard about Nawaz Sharif’s return.

    One in three adults said that they have heard the speech of the PML-N supremo, accounting for an audience of 40 million people across Pakistan.

    Thirdly, 80 per cent of the people who heard the speech said that they liked it. On the other hand, 12 per cent said that they didn’t like the speech and eight per cent have mix feelings.

    A total of 50 per cent respondents believed that Nawaz’s comeback to Pakistan would be beneficial for the nation and its people. In contrast, 14 per cent expressed concerns that his return would have a negative impact on Pakistan. Additionally, 18 per cent remained neutral, stating that his return would not affect the lives of the ordinary citizens.

    A key figure of 51 per cent people think that the former prime minister’s return to Pakistan will be helpful for PML-N to win the upcoming general election. On the other hand, 26 per cent people said that Nawaz Sharif’s return will harm PML-N.

    A total of 70 per cent people agreed that Nawaz Sharif should work with other political parties as well, including arch rivals PTI.
    Almost four in 10 respondents believed that Nawaz Sharif’s return to Pakistan was part of a certain deal.

    Lastly, 30 per cent people think that Nawaz Sharif has the ability to take the country out of its current economic situation. Meanwhile, 22 per cent were of the opinion that Imran Khan possessed the capability to alleviate the ongoing crisis in the country.

  • Aurat-March lambasts Nawaz Sharif over sexist remarks

    Aurat-March lambasts Nawaz Sharif over sexist remarks

    The Karachi chapter of women’s rights movement Aurat March has taken to X (former Twitter) to criticize former Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Nawaz Sharif over his remarks delivered in a speech in Minar e Pakistan’s procession on Saturday.

    The tweet started with a sardonic tone, “Bohat Khoob”. It further criticised Nawaz Sharif for jibing at women’s politics. “He has not learnt up till now that categorising women as “good” or “bad” is a thing of ancient times.” The tweet said that raising questions over a woman’s character on the basis of dance is a “ghatiya harqat” [an extremely bad action].

    The tweets came in response to Nawaz praising the women at his rally for not dancing with the beat of drum, a thinly veiled swipe at arch rivals Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). He asked the crowd to clap for him if they understood what he implied.

    Aurat March suggested to the PML-N leader to let go of misogyny.

  • Imran Khan, SMQ indicted in cipher case

    Imran Khan, SMQ indicted in cipher case

    Former Prime Minister and Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan has been indicted on Monday in a case related to the leaking of secret state documents.

    Along with Khan, his party’s Vice-Chairman and former foreign minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, has also been indicted in the case. If proved, the charges carry sentences of up to 14 years imprisonment.

    Imran Khan was arrested in August in a case related to state gifts, however, he and Qureshi are currently jailed in the cipher case.

    Imran Khan’s lawyers told the media outside Adiala jail, where the indictment was read out, that they will contest the indictment.

  • 120 premature babies are at risk: What do we know about day 16

    120 premature babies are at risk: What do we know about day 16

    Here is an update on day 16:

    • Israeli military claims to have attacked dozens of Hamas targets throughout last night, killing two Hamas fighters.

    “Throughout the day, dozens of tunnel shafts, munitions warehouses, headquarters and operational military bases were destroyed,” the army said, adding that mosques were also targeted as they were used by Hamas’s operatives.

    • Israeli forces have killed five more Palestinians in occupied West Bank, increasing the death toll to 90 since October 7, says Palestinian Ministry of Health.
    • The United Nations have reported that at least 120 premature babies in incubators are at risk after Israel cut fuel access into Gaza. “We have currently 120 neonates who are in incubators, out of which we have 70 neonates with mechanical ventilation, and of course this is where we are extremely concerned,” said UNICEF spokesperson Jonathan Crickx.

    Similarly, Palestinian Health Ministry has confirmed thay more than 1,700 children have been killed by Israeli attacks so far.

    • Israeli attacks in Gaza have also destroyed 31 mosques, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Endowments.
    • Wafa news agency has reported that the Israeli forces have arrested at least 58 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank this morning. Since October 7, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been arrested.

  • Colombia to open embassy in Palestine

    Colombian President Gustavo Petro has been very vocal in his condemnation of Israel’s war on Gaza. In one of his recent statements, after a meeting with both the ambassadors of Palestine and Israel, he showed his solidarity with the children from both sides and pledged to open an Embassy in Ramallah, Palestine.

    “I have expressed my position to achieve an international peace conference that opens the way for two independent and free states. I reiterated my solidarity with Israeli and Palestinian children, who must and have the right to live in peace,” he said in a post on X (former Twitter).

    The Colombian president further pledged, “We will send a plane with humanitarian aid to the outskirts of Gaza waiting for a humanitarian corridor to open. Colombia will open its embassy in Ramallah, Palestine.”

    It is crucial in the context of the ongoing conflict as Petro has refused to condemn Hamas’ attack on Israel and compared Israel’s actions to those of Nazi Germany. In response to this, the country bore the cost in the form of suspension of defence imports from Israel — their biggest supplier of warplanes, surveillance equipment, and assault rifles since the 1990s.